Lyell Collection
Journal of the Geological Society
Lyell Centre  |   Lyell Collection  |   Subscriptions   |   Geological Society  |   Email alerts  |   Online bookshop  |   Help

Keywords:
Author:
Advanced search>>
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by KELLER, J. V. A.
Right arrow Articles by McCLAY, K. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
GeoRef
Right arrow GeoRef Citation
Journal of the Geological Society; 1995; v. 152; issue.2; p. 339-351;
DOI: 10.1144/gsjgs.152.2.0339
© 1995 Geological Society of London

Article

The geometry and evolution of a transpressional strike-slip system: the Carboneras fault, SE Spain

J. V. A. KELLER1, S. H. HALL2,2, C. J. DART1,3 & K. R. McCLAY1

1 Fault Dynamics Project, Department of Geology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
2 BP Exploration, Stockley Park, Uxbridge UBll IBP, UK

The Carboneras fault system is a 40 km long, 1 km wide Neogene NE-SW-trending left-lateral transpressional strike-slip fault system which is part of the Trans-Alboran shear zone in SE Spain. The Carboneras fault system is an anastomosing array of sub-vertical, individual fault planes or fault zones which surround pods or lenses of less intensely strained rocks. Displacements along the individual fault planes exhibit reverse components of slips and form positive flower structures. Faults have either sharp boundaries or wider bands of gouge, typically a few metres thick and are hundreds of metres in length. Second-order fault splays are well developed and usually exhibit P-shear rather than Riedel-shear orientations. These are interpreted to be related to the transpressional displacement and may also characterize other oblique convergent zones elsewhere. The second-order faults are interpreted to have formed as shear strain increased along the first-order fault and was transferred laterally to branch segments. This process produced pods, or shear lenses, bounded by the fault segments. The length to width aspect ratios of the shear lenses were found to be scale-independent across five orders of magnitude with the most common values between 3:l and 6:l. A model is proposed for the development of the fault zone by incremental finite displacements along the segmented fault surfaces. This model is based on field evidence that displacement switched with time from one fault strand to another.

Key Words: Spain • transpression • strike-slip faults • shear zones • Betic Cordillera




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Geological Society, London, Special PublicationsHome page
A. Pedrera, C. Marin-Lechado, J. Galindo-Zaldivar, L. R. Rodriguez-Fernandez, and A. Ruiz-Constan
Fault and fold interaction during the development of the Neogene-Quaternary Almeria-Nijar basin (SE Betic Cordilleras)
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2006; 262: 217 - 230.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Geological Society, London, Special PublicationsHome page
M. Stokes, A. E. Mather, and A. M. Harvey
Quantification of river-capture-induced base-level changes and landscape development, Sorbas Basin, SE Spain
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2002; 191: 23 - 35.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Geological Society of America BulletinHome page
A.E. Mather, A.M. Harvey, and M. Stokes
Quantifying long-term catchment changes of alluvial fan systems
Geological Society of America Bulletin, 2000; 112: 1825 - 1833.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Journal of the Geological SocietyHome page
P. Scotney, P. SCOTNEY, R. BURGESS, and E. H. RUTTER
40Ar/39Ar age of the Cabo de Gata volcanic series and displacements on the Carboneras fault zone, SE Spain
Journal of the Geological Society, 2000; 157: 1003 - 1008.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 Geological Society, London, Special PublicationsHome page
D. R. Faulkner and E. H. Rutter
The gas permeability of clay-bearing fault gouge at 20{degrees}C
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 1998; 147: 147 - 156.
[Abstract] [PDF]